Herlev Hospital Denmark: Healthcare Building
Danish Healthcare Building Development design by Henning Larsen Architects, Denmark
post updated 31 October 2026
Location: Borgmester Ib Juuls Vej 1, Herlev, Sjaelland – suburb about 11 km northwest of Copenhagen city centre, bordering Rødovre to the south
Design: Henning Larsen Architects
Healing architecture wins in Herlev
14 April 2011
Herlev Hospital Building Design
Henning Larsen Architects and the consortium consisting of the architecture companies Friis & Moltke and Brunsgaard & Laursen, the engineering companies NNE Pharmaplan and Orbicon Leif Hansen, the consulting company Norconsult and landscape architects SLA have won the competition for the extension of Herlev Hospital. A total of five consortiums participated in the competition.
The 54,000 m2 extension will comprise a new emergency department and maternity services centre, including a pediatrics unit and maternity ward. The project consists of three circular buildings placed on rectangular bases – which are displaced from each other creating a number of inviting outdoor spaces. The new extension thus constitutes a down-scaled and compressed contrast to the 120 metre high rectangular geometry of the existing hospital.
”Herlev Hospital is a fine example of the functional hospital architecture of the 60’s. However, a lot has changed since then, and we know today that technology only forms part of a good treatment process”, says Partner Lars Steffensen, Henning Larsen Architects. “The hospital of the future should offer a number of additional qualities. It should provide a worthy and sensuous framework for patients, relatives and employees.”
An extract from the citation reads: ”The project powerfully unites building design and landscape into an architectural whole providing patients, relatives and staff with the experience that “focus is on the individual”. The project must be emphasised for its high and well-argued ambition level for healing architecture.”
”A human building scale contributes significantly to good patient care. A hospital should have a clear and well-arranged layout, just as the different wards should be easily recognisable. The various spaces should offer distraction and a calm, peaceful atmosphere”, says Partner Lars Steffensen, Henning Larsen Architects. “We have had particular focus on children and their families. The fragility that children represent when having to go to hospital requires special care and attention.”
The recreational and healing effect of nature is well-documented. At Herlev Hospital, this knowledge is taken seriously – thus, luxuriant courtyards, green roof gardens and a large, central green heart provide the new hospital with an altogether vibrant and life-affirming atmosphere.
According to schedule, the construction of the hospital should start in May 2014, and the extension is expected to be ready for use in October 2017. A later planned phase includes a patient hotel, conference facilities and a research school, among others.
Henning Larsen Architects
Herlev Hospital images / information from Henning Larsen Architects
Architects: Gehrdt Bornebusch, Max Brüel
Floors: 25
Opened: 1976
Phone: +45 38 68 38 68
Location: Borgmester Ib Juuls Vej 1, 2730 Herlev, Denmark.
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Henning Larsen
Comments / photos for the Herlev Hospital Denmark Architecture design by Henning Larsen Architects and the consortium consisting of the architecture companies Friis & Moltke and Brunsgaard & Laursen, the engineering companies NNE Pharmaplan and Orbicon Leif Hansen, the consulting company Norconsult and landscape architects SLA page welcome
